Apparatus for Uniform Total Body Cryotherapy

ABSTRACT

In accordance with one embodiment, a uniform total body cryotherapy apparatus operative to allow an individual in a cryotherapy chamber to be subjected to the same cold temperatures on their entire body at the same time. In use, the apparatus allows active dissemination of cold air in a confined space without the undesired consequence of wind shear commonly caused by forced movement of cold air.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 USC 119, this application claims the right of priority topatent application Ser. No. 14/501,842 filed on Sep. 30, 2014. Thecontent of said application is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT AND TRADE DRESS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may showand/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner.The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to apparatuses for exposing aperson's body to cold temperatures as a means of alleviating pain,decreasing inflammation, or achieving a general sense of well-being.More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a apparatus forfacilitating the application of cryotherapy precisely and uniformlythroughout the entire body of a person undergoing treatment.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

The topical application of low temperatures have long been recognized asa form of medical therapy to relieve a variety of ailments ranging frominflammation to muscles spasms and even headaches. This technique,commonly referred to as cryotherapy, dates back to the sixteen hundredsin it's most primitive form when ice packs were used as a means ofreducing inflammation through the constriction of blood vessels.

Various devices for utilizing cryotherapy throughout the body have beenproposed. Many of these devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,753,240, and 4,676,247, are limited to application on one regionof the body at a time with particular attention on the hands an feet.Advances in the art have inspired more complex proposals foreffectuating a desired treatment method through decreasing tissuetemperature on and around the impacted area. U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,804teaches an adjustable wrap structure capable of wrapping at leastpartially around various joints or body parts. While the '804 patentexpands beyond just the hands and feet of the user, it lacks the abilityto accurately and efficiently apply cryotherapy to more than one regionof the body at a time.

The aforementioned techniques place significant constraints on how coldand for how long a practitioner could apply cryotherapy on theirpatient. Though these approaches were beneficial for the time, designconstrictions only allowed small regions to be targeted and for a shortperiod of time. Technological restrictions of the period meanttemperatures could only be as cold as ice and not sustained for verylong due to melting.

More recently, proposal have been made to address disadvantages of thethe earliest disclosures. U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,930 overcomes theanatomical constraints using a method and device for cryogenic therapyapplied on the whole body of a patient. In this disclosure, cryotherapyis performed by introducing the patient into a treatment cabin andexposing the body to cold air deposited into the cabin space. Avaporized solution comprising liquefied nitrogen is introduced into achamber using piping and nozzles.

The manner in which cooling air is introduced into the chambersnecessarily causes frigid air to accumulate in the bottom of thecryochamber. Over a short period, the air warms and expands risingtowards the top of the chamber. The cold frigid air remains close to thebottom of the chamber causing a temperature gradient. Accordingly, anindividual standing in the proposed chamber will be exposed to warmertemperatures on their upper extremities and substantially coldertemperatures at and around their lower extremities. In practice,clinicians are limited in the amount of time they can allow patients tospend in these chambers and must focus on the exposure time of the lowerextremities alone or risk harming their patients. Skin burns to thelower extremities are a well known risk associated with these devices.Accordingly patients must be removed from the chambers before the upperextremities are able to receive the full benefits of treatment.

All of the cyrochambers heretofore known are further limited becausethey are incapable of treating the entire body of the person within.These devices only go about as far as the upper shoulder of the personinside. As a result, they do not supply cooling air to the head and neckof the user. The head and neck comprise many cold receptors and ignoringthis region has a deleterious impact on the treatments efficacy.

Proposals have also been made to use fans as a means of forcing the coldair up towards the higher extremities. However, attempts at this methodshave proven ineffective. The movement of cold air results in wind shear.This wind shear factor unnecessarily exposes the patient to a high riskof skin burn causing medical professionals to dismiss this as a viabletreatment option.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 8,316,652 teaches a mobile cryotherapy systemwithout overcoming the health hazards introduced by the '930 patent.Furthermore, neither the '652 patent nor the '930 patent teaches anadequate means for ensuring the cold air introduced into the chambersdoes not escape. Temperatures within the chambers may range from minuseighty to minus one hundred and sixty degrees Celsius and yet all of thecryotherapy chambers heretofore known utilize conventional insulationmethods which have proven inadequate for sustaining these temperatures.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a cryotherapy apparatus that candeliver cold air uniformly to all the extremities of a patientundergoing treatment. There further exists a need for such an apparatuswhich may accomplish these objectives in an efficient manner withoutsubstantial waste resulting from inadequate insolation. The presentinvention facilitates these and other needs currently experienced byprofessionals practicing in the field of cryotherapy.

SUMMARY

An apparatus are provided for the uniform application of cooled airsimultaneously to the upper and lower body of an individual undergoingcryotherapy. The present disclosure overcomes the challenges presentedby the prior art through the use of a cooling and distribution apparatuscapable of creating and maintaining a temperature within a cryochamberranging between −80 and −160 degrees Celsius. The apparatus of thepresent disclosure facilitates the cryotherapy treatment process bycreating an environment comprising no significant temperature variationbetween the space occupied by the patients upper and lower extremities.

Briefly described, one embodiment, among others, is a uniform total bodycryotherapy apparatus operative to allow an individual in a cryotherapychamber to be subjected to the same cold temperatures on their upper andlower extremities at the same time. In use, the apparatus allows activedissemination of cold air in a confined space without the undesiredconsequence of wind shear commonly caused by forced movement of coldair.

The apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a heat exchanger,circulating means, ductwork, cryogenic material, or cooling agent, and ameans for containing the same, a deflecting means, and an air-permeableshield. The refrigeration means of the present disclosure varies incomposition and function from any other heretofore taught by the priorart. A cooling agent travels from the containment unit through aplurality of heat exchangers to an outlet where it can be discarded.Positioned behind the heat exchangers is a length of ductwork comprisingan entry opening and exit opening through which air may travel.

The refrigeration means further comprise a circulating apparatus such asa motorized fan operative to direct airflow through the ductwork entryand out the exit near which a deflecting means is positioned. Thedeflecting means comprises an input side and an output side. Thedeflecting means is operative to redirect air originating from thecirculating apparatus to the space directly in front of the heatexchangers. Accordingly, the deflecting means must be sufficiently wideso that the output side extends beyond the plurality of heat exchangersof the refrigeration means.

In one embodiment, cold air is blown downward through the ductwork froma circulating apparatus positioned above the entry side and deflectedback up and past the cooling fins of the heat exchangers. Unlike theprior art references, where the person inside the chamber is sprayedwith cooling agent onto their skin, at no point does the apparatus ofthe present disclosure expose any person inside directly to the coolingagent. The temperature of the air is reduced as it follows a pathtowards the cryochamber ceiling. This will cause the cooled air toslowly sink down towards the bottom of the chamber. The result is aneven distribution of cold air from floor to ceiling without any windshear effect on the person inside the chamber.

Another embodiment may further comprise a permeable membrane positionedbetween the heat exchangers and space occupied by a user. Such amembrane will be operative to shield the user from touching the heatexchangers while still allowing passive insertion of cold air throughthe membrane. By way of example, and not limitation, such a membrane maybe comprised of wood or plastic.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling agent may berecycled as part of a closed loop. In this embodiment, the cooling agentis passed through an initial set heat exchangers but not discardedthrough a vent pipe. Rather than being discarded, the used cooling agentpasses through a line connected to a separate set of heat exchangerswhere it facilitates the cooling of another cryochamber. The secondcryochamber is not as cool as the original chamber. This establishes agradient of chambers whereby the user may begin by entering a chamberwith the highest temperature and gradually work their way intosuccessively colder chambers.

The chambers may be interconnected while maintaining their respectivetemperatures using adequately sealed access doors as a means forphysical separation. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure,each individual chamber may comprise it's own refrigeration meanscomprising individualized heat exchangers, circulating means, ductwork,a deflecting means, and an air-permeable shield. Each refrigerationmeans may be supplied by solution from the same cryogenic material tankor comprise an independent tank to supply it.

By way of example, one such cryogenic material solution may be comprisedof liquid nitrogen. The amount of cooling agent entering the heatexchangers may be regulated in a number of different ways. In oneembodiment, this is accomplished using at least one valve on a linewhich connects the agent storage chamber to the heat exchangers. In oneembodiment, this valve may be electronically coupled to a temperaturesensor monitoring the inside of any give chamber.

Having a primary chamber separated from other ancillary chambersfunctions to minimize temperature loss from the chamber with the lowesttemperature. Temperature loss within a cyrochamber can lead to wastefulenergy expenditures. In another embodiment, a specialized composition ofsilica aerogel may be used within the chamber walls, floors, ceiling,and the doors as a means for further minimizing temperature loss.Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figures

FIG. 1 is an overhead schematic depicting a first exemplary cryochamberof the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an overhead schematic depicting a second exemplary cryochamberof the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a profile view illustrating the inner workings of an exemplarycryochamber; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cooling apparatus of the presentdisclosure.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in thedrawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present invention. The same reference numerals in differentfigures denote the same elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such thatthe embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operationin sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises alist of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but mayinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,”“under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, areused for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describingpermanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms soused are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that theembodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capableof operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwisedescribed herein.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the likeshould be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or moreelements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two ormore electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but notmechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements maybe mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; twoor more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but notelectrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical,electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanentor semi-permanent or only for an instant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. Theshowings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and notfor purposes of limiting the same. The following explanation providesspecific details for a thorough understanding of an enabling descriptionfor these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that theinvention may be practiced without such details.

FIG. 1 is an overhead schematic depicting an first exemplary cryochamberutilizing the apparatus of the present disclosure. The exemplaryembodiment illustrated therein depicts a cryochamber comprising at leasttwo subchambers. A primary chamber 1 and a secondary chamber 2 areinterconnected and separated by an access door 11 which remains closedduring normal operation. This embodiment further comprises at least twocooling apparatuses, a first apparatus 10 located in the primary chamber1 and a second apparatus 20 located in the secondary chamber 2. However,in various embodiments, only one cooling apparatus will be used within asingle chamber. In addition, this embodiment comprises at least onecontainment unit 30 for storing a cooling agent (not shown), at leastone control valve 32, and an outlet 36 for discarding used cooling agentthrough a discharge conduit.

In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 2, the outlet 36 is removed anda cooling agent compressing and cooling means 34 is added. It is furtherenvisioned that, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, both acooling means 34 and outlet 36 will be included as parts of theapparatus 10.

Opening the control valve 32 in FIG. 1, causes cooling agent to bedispensed from the containment unit 30 to the first cooling apparatus10. After the agent passes through this cooling apparatus 10, thetemperature in the primary chamber 1 is cooled but the cooling agentneed not be discarded. Conversely, the cooling agent may pass from thefirst cooling apparatus 10 to the second cooling apparatus 20. In thisembodiment, the cooling agent passes through the second apparatus 20while cooling the atmosphere in the secondary chamber 2 to a slightlylesser degree than the primary chamber 1. Finally, it exits thesecondary chamber 2 to were it may be discarded through an outlet 36.

FIG. 2 is an overhead schematic depicting a second exemplary cryochamberutilizing the apparatus of the present disclosure in a closed-loopedconfiguration. The exemplary embodiment illustrated herein depicts acryochamber comprising at least two subchambers. A primary chamber 1 anda secondary chamber 2 are interconnected and separated by an access door11 which remains closed during normal operation. This embodiment alsocomprises at least two cooling apparatuses, a first apparatus 10 locatedin the primary chamber 1 and a second apparatus 20 located in thesecondary chamber 2. In addition, this embodiment comprises at least onecontainment unit 30 for storing a cooling agent (not shown), at leastone control valve 32, and a cooling agent compressing and cooling means34.

Similar to the example in FIG. 1, opening the control valve 32 in FIG.2, causes cooling agent to be dispensed from the containment unit 30 tothe first cooling apparatus 10. After the agent passes through thiscooling apparatus 10, the temperature in the primary chamber 1 is cooledbut the cooling agent need not be discarded. Conversely, the coolingagent may pass from the first cooling apparatus 10 to the second coolingapparatus 20. In this embodiment, the cooling agent passes through thesecond apparatus 20 while cooling the atmosphere in the secondarychamber 2 to a slightly lesser degree than the primary chamber 1.However, in this embodiment instead of being discarded through an outlet36, the cooling agent is channeled through to a compression and coolingmeans 34. When the agent is directed to the compression and coolingmeans 34, it regains most of its original composition before moving backinto the containment unit 30 to be reused.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cryochamber may furthercomprise a system controller (not shown) which may be programmed toregulate the temperatures within each chamber. The system controller mayreceive information from a plurality of sensors located within thechambers which may include, but are not limited to, temperature sensors,thermostats, cooling agent control means, control valves, and the like.The system controller communicates with the control valves and thecooling apparatuses to properly maintain the temperatures within adesired range. This is accomplished by regulating the flow of coolingagent as well as the operation of the cooling apparatuses. In oneembodiment, it is envisioned the temperatures within the cyrochambersmay be further regulated by opening and closing vents to the environmentoutside any given chamber.

Preferably, the cryochamber walls and access doors are thermallyinsulated to minimize temperature loss from within each respectivechamber. In one embodiment, a specialized composition of silica aerogelmay be used within the chamber walls, floor, ceiling, and doors tofurther reduce wasteful temperature loss from within.

FIG. 3 is a profile view illustrating the inner workings of the coolingapparatus. In this instance, the first cooling apparatus 10 is shownalong with ductwork connecting it to the cooling agent 31 containmentunit 30. This figure further illustrates the air flow through thecooling apparatus 10 which allows the cyrochamber to maintainsubstantially uniform temperatures from floor 3 to ceiling 4. Theapparatus 10 depicted in FIG. 2 comprises an air circulation means 12,such as a motorized fan, ductwork 14 positioned behind a plurality ofheat exchangers 16, a deflecting means 18, as well as a permeablemembrane 22 that also functions to shield the occupants of thecryochamber from contact with the heat exchangers.

In FIG. 3, the circulation means 12 is operative to channel air throughthe ductwork 14 which comprises an entry 15 and an outlet 17. Theairflow in FIG. 3 travels downward from the entry 15 through theductwork 14 and past the outlet 17 to the deflecting means 18. Thedeflecting means 18 is illustrated as a U-shaped pan by way of example,and not limitation. The deflecting means 18 is wide enough to capturethe airflow traveling through the ductwork 14 and protrudes beyond thewidth of the heat exchangers 16. This ensures air traveling behind theheat exchangers 16 is redirected upward to the area in front, afterbeing redirected by the deflecting means 18.

FIG. 3 illustrates the flow of circulating air once it has beendeflected towards the side of the heat exchangers 16 opposite theductwork 14. This air contacts a plurality of cooling fins located onthe heat exchangers 16 as it travels back up towards the ceiling 4. Theblown air moving passed these fins gets colder while on this trajectoryand gradually sinks back down towards the chamber floor 3. As a result,the air on the chamber floor 3 has the same temperature as the any airmaking it all the way up to the ceiling 4. Furthermore, this objectivehas been accomplished without any undesired generation of wind shear onthe person inside the chamber.

The system controller may be set to maintain the cryochamber temperaturewithin a predetermined set point, e.g. minus one hundred and fortydegrees Celsius or a range, e.g., minus eighty degrees Celsius and minusone hundred and eighty degrees Celsius. If one of the sensors detects atemperature rise above the set point, the system controller responds bysending a signal operative to open a valve 32 permitting cooling agentto flow from the containment unit 30 therethrough and into the heatexchangers 16. This happens until the sensed temperature drops back downbelow the set point. The system controller responds accordingly byclosing the valve 32 and terminating the flow of cooling agent until thecryochamber temperature rises above the set point temperature

Should the heat exchangers 16 contact a users skin while in operation,the results could be harmful. The permeable shield 22 depicted in FIG. 2is operative to shield users from the heat exchangers 16 whilecontinuing to allow passive insertion of cooled air through pours,slits, or channels contained therein. Such a membrane may be comprisedof a variety of different materials including, but not limited to, woodand plastic.

In one embodiment, air traveling upwards after passing the front of theheat exchangers 16 will be recirculated back down through the ductwork14 by the circulation means 12.

In yet another embodiment, the ductwork 14 entry point 15 may be widerthan the outlet 17. Such a design will facilitate acceleration of blownair by the circulating means 12. Accordingly, air moving out of the duct14 will be traveling at a higher rate of speed than the air coming in.This encourages deflection while ensuring more blown air is directedback up past the heat exchangers 16 towards the ceiling 4.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the various components of the coolingapparatus 12. The downward trajectory of air blown by the circulationmeans 12 is facilitated by a ring member 40 surrounding a plurality ofblades 42. The blades 42, are driven by a motor 44 and may be angled todirect air flow towards the deflection means 18. In one embodiment, thedistance between the distal end of the blades 42 and the inner wall ofthe ring member 40 will be small. Minimizing this distance enhances theapparatuses air channeling capabilities ensuring optimal movement of airto the ductwork 14 below. In one embodiment, this capability is furtherenhanced by positioning the blades 42 within the ring member 40 ratherthan protruding from it.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments is intended to beillustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to belimiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall belimited only to the extent required by the appended claims. To one ofordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the devicesdiscussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, andthat the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does notnecessarily represent a complete description of all possibleembodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and thedrawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment, and maydisclose alternative embodiments.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, the cryotherapy chamber is illustrated as being comprised oftwo distinct cooling apparatuses in two distinct cryochambers in someembodiments even though the inventors contemplate the possibility thatit may comprise only one cooling apparatus in only one cyrochamber ormore cryochambers and event the possibility for each cryochamber havingmore than one cooling apparatus. Accordingly, is not intended that theinvention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

The teachings provided herein can be applied to other systems, notnecessarily the apparatus described herein. The elements and acts of thevarious embodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments. All of the above patents and applications and otherreferences, including any that may be listed in accompanying filingpapers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the inventioncan be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, andconcepts of the various references described above to provide yetfurther embodiments of the invention.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the apparatus for uniform total body cryotherapywith which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used inthe following claims should not be constructed to limit the apparatus tothe specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless theabove description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, theactual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but alsoall equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosedapparatus. The above description of embodiments of the apparatus is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed aboveor to a particular field of usage. While specific embodiments of, andexamples for, the apparatus for uniform total body cryotherapy aredescribed above for illustrative purposes, various equivalentmodifications are possible which those skilled in the relevant art willrecognize.

While certain aspects of the apparatus for uniform total bodycryotherapy are presented below in particular claim forms, the inventorscontemplate the various aspects of the apparatus in any number of claimforms. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additionalclaims after filing the application to pursue such additional claimforms for other aspects of the apparatus for uniform total bodycryotherapy.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for uniform total body cryotherapycomprising: at least one cryochamber, said cryochamber comprising afloor, a ceiling, a space between said floor and said ceiling withsufficient dimensions to contain at least one person undergoingcryotherapy, and a first cooling apparatus capable of maintaining thetemperature of said cryochamber at any particular set point between −80°C. and −160° C. from said floor to said ceiling without any appreciablefluctuation in atmospheric temperature in said space between said floorand said ceiling. Wherein said cyrochamber walls are thermally insulatedwith a composition comprising silica aerogel.